Height adjustment locking mechanism

ABSTRACT

A height adjusting device is disclosed. The height adjusting device includes a supporting foot and a lifting nut coupled to the supporting foot. The device also includes a lifting rod coupled to the lifting nut by a threaded interaction. Further, the device includes a first mechanical combination of: a fixing plate coupled to the lifting nut and having a threaded aperture therethrough; a screw threaded through the threaded aperture and having a first screw end and a second screw end; a knob coupled to the first screw end; and a latching tooth coupled to the second screw end. Further still, the device includes a second mechanical combination like the first mechanical combination of the fixing plate, the screw, the knob, and the latching tooth. The fixing plate of the second mechanical combination is positioned at a different orientation than the first mechanical combination relative to the lifting nut.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments described relate generally to a height adjusting lockmechanism, for example a height adjusting lock mechanism for furnituresuch as a table, a chair, a stool, a coffee table and the like.

Furniture, such as tables, chairs, stools, coffee tables, etc., arecommon in daily life. People can put things, do things, eat, write,work, etc. on some pieces of furniture. Generally, the height of thefurniture is fixed and may be very inconvenient to use. For example, theheight of the table and chair can make the seat feel very comfortableand help to reduce the bad sitting posture and hunchback phenomenon. Dueto the uneven height of the tables and chairs in the market and also theheight difference of people, the height difference between the table andthe chair of the same set of products may not be suitable, which limitsthe range of uses for the tables and chairs.

Tables and chairs and other furniture or apparatuses having extendableportions may have adjustable legs or columnar supports such that theheight of the chair or table surface may be adjustable. Various lockingmechanisms have been devised for causing height adjustability for legs,but not all are compact and easy to use such as a screw threadedcolumnar support as is seen on many office chairs. Many of these typesof chairs lack mechanisms to lock the chair at a certain height whileothers have locking mechanisms that do not hold the chair at the givenheight because the holding force is insufficient. Accordingly, there isa need for a locking mechanism that can hold an adjustable leg orsupport at a given height while overcoming deficiencies of other holdingmechanisms.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment relates to a height adjusting device. The heightadjusting device includes a supporting foot and a lifting nut coupled tothe supporting foot. The device also includes a lifting rod coupled tothe lifting nut by a threaded interaction. Further, the device includesa first mechanical combination of a fixing plate coupled to the liftingnut and having a threaded aperture therethrough; a screw threadedthrough the threaded aperture and having a first screw end and a secondscrew end; a knob coupled to the first screw end; and a latching toothcoupled to the second screw end. Further still, the device includes asecond mechanical combination like the first mechanical combination ofthe fixing plate, the screw, the knob, and the latching tooth. Thefixing plate of the second mechanical combination is positioned at adifferent orientation than the first mechanical combination relative tothe lifting nut.

Another exemplary embodiment relates to a locking mechanism for lockinga nut to a threaded rod preventing rotation. The mechanism includes anut configured to couple with the threaded rod. The mechanism alsoincludes a first mechanical combination of: a fixing plate coupled tothe nut and having a threaded aperture therethrough; a screw threadedthrough the threaded aperture and having a first screw end and a secondscrew end; a knob coupled to the first screw end; and a latching toothcoupled to the second screw end. The mechanism also includes a secondmechanical combination like the first mechanical combination of thefixing plate, the screw, the knob, and the latching tooth. The fixingplate of the second mechanical combination is positioned at a differentorientation than the first mechanical combination relative to the nut.

Yet another exemplary embodiment relates to a method of locking a nut toa threaded rod. The method includes providing a nut configured to couplewith the threaded rod and turning a knob, to engage a locking tooth withthe threaded rod, of a first mechanical combination. The firstmechanical combination includes: a fixing plate coupled to the nut andhaving a threaded aperture therethrough; a screw threaded through thethreaded aperture and having a first screw end and a second screw end; aknob coupled to the first screw end; and a latching tooth coupled to thesecond screw end. The method also includes turning another knob, toengage another locking tooth with the threaded rod of a secondmechanical combination like the first mechanical combination. The secondmechanical combination includes the fixing plate, the screw, the knob,and the latching tooth, the fixing plate of the second mechanicalcombination is positioned at a different orientation than the firstmechanical combination relative to the nut.

In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the disclosure set forthherein. The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/orother subject matter described herein will become apparent in thedisclosures set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a height adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a locking mechanism of the heightadjusting mechanism of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of

FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of

FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of

The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicatessimilar or identical items unless context dictates otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to exemplary embodiments, a height adjusting lockingmechanism, comprises a supporting foot, a lifting nut, a threadedlifting rod, a fixing plate, at least two screws, at least two knobs,and at least two engagement tooth portions. The supporting foot isplaced on a horizontal surface, and the lifting nut is fixedly mountedon the upper end of the supporting foot, the lifting nut. The threadedlifting rod is coupled to the lifting nut via the screw thread of thelifting nut engaging the screw thread of the threaded lifting rod.Coupled to the top of the threaded lifting rod is a table surface orchair seat, etc. Coupled to at least two sides of the lifting nut is afixing plate having a threaded hole in the middle of the fixing plate.Each of the at least two fixing plates has a threaded hole and a screwis configured to fit the threaded hole. At one end of each of the screwsis a knob for easy grasping. A user rotates the knob by hand to advanceor withdraw an engagement tooth portion within a cavity in the liftingnut. The relative screw motion of the threaded lifting rod and thelifting nut can precisely adjust the height of the lifting rod head(where the table surface or chair seat, e.g. are coupled) from theground. Once a desired height is reached the at least two knobs areturned to advance the at least two screws which in turn advance the atleast two engagement tooth portions. The structure design is simple andeasy to use, and the manufacturing cost is low. The use of at least twoengagement tooth portions creates a very tight locking with highresistance to rotation of the lifting nut relative to the threadedlifting rod. It is suitable for all furniture that needs to be supportedsuch as but not limited to tables, stools, coffee tables, chairs, etc.,it is convenient for users to use and has a wide range of uses. Althoughthis device is shown and described as a height locking mechanism, it maybe applied to horizontal use, or use at any orientation withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, aheight adjusting device includes a supporting leg 1, a lifting nut 2, athreaded lifting rod 3, a fixing plate 4, a screw 5, a knob 6, and alatching tooth 7. The bottom of the supporting leg 1 is placed on ahorizontal surface. The upper end of the support leg 1 is coupled withlifting nut 2. Support leg 1 may be fixedly or movably, or detachablycoupled to the lifting nut 2. Lifting nut 2 is screwed onto threadedlifting rod 3. Threaded lifting rod 3 can be freely rotated relative tolifting nut 2, thereby adjusting the height from the ground. The top ofthreaded lifting rod 3 supports the furniture, and the side of threadedlifting nut 2. Fixing plate 4 is fixedly mounted to lifting nut 2. Athreaded hole is provided in the middle of fixing plate 4, the threadedhole is matched with the screw 5. Screw 5 can be freely rotated relativeto the threaded hole and is coupled to latching tooth 7. Rotation ofknob 6 causes rotation of screw 5 thereby moving latching tooth 7 leftor right. Knob 6 facilitates the manual rotation of screw 5, movinglatching tooth 7 to engage with the thread of threaded lifting rod 3.Latching tooth 7 clamps threaded lifting rod 3 so that it cannot rotatefreely relative to lifting nut 2.

Specifically, the lifting nut 2 has two, the latching teeth 7 arelocated between the two lifting nuts 2, and the lifting rod 3 is screwedto the two lifting nuts 2, on the one hand, the lifting rod 3 isprevented from loosening, and on the other hand, the locking teeth 7 arefacilitated. The clamp lifts the lifting rod 3. In addition, the teeth 7are equally divided into a plurality of serrations on the side of thelifting rod 3, and the serrations can clamp the external threads of thelifting rod to ensure that the lifting rod 3 does not slip and fall whenthe lifting rod 3 supports adjusting the height of the furniture, andthe structure is stable and reliable.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a second fixing plate 4 isused to mount a second knob 6 coupled to another screw 5 and anotherlatching tooth 7. The use of the second latching tooth 7, which isconfigured to engage threaded lifting rod 3, is to provide a much firmerlocking mechanism such that it becomes nearly impossible to rotatethreaded lifting rod 3 when both of the latching tooth 7 are tightlyengaging threaded lifting rod 3.

Referring now to FIG. 2, two knobs 6 are depicted for moving twolatching tooth 7 in and out of engagement with a threaded lifting rod,such as seen as threaded lifting rod 3 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 also depicts,in finer detail, knob 6 being attached to screw 5 on one end and tolatching tooth 7 on the other end. Further FIG. 2 depicts the use ofboth an upper and a lower lifting nut 2 coupled with at least twofastening plates 4. In alternative embodiments, more than two latchingtooth 7 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.More than 2 latching tooth 7 may result in an even more firm lockingpotential. Also, in an alternative embodiment, more a single or morelifting nuts may be used without departing from the scope of theinvention.

In a particular embodiment, a furniture piece may have three supportlegs 1 and the three support legs 1 may be arranged in an equilateraltriangle around the lifting nut 2. The stability of the equilateraltriangle structure is not as easy to deform as the quadrilateral shape,and is stable, firm, and resistant. The characteristics of theequilateral triangle arrangement, allow for significant pressure to beplaced on the legs and ensure that it will not fall. The heightadjustment locking mechanism may be used with any leg configurationswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

In operation rotating threaded lifting rod 3 adjusts the height of thehead of threaded lifting rod 3, and after determining the height, thetwo knobs 6 are rotated. The rotation of knobs 6 drives the two latchingtooth 7 towards the center of lifting nuts 2. By the cooperation of thescrews 5 and the fixed plates 4 the plurality of serrations on the twolatching tooth 7 are locked with the external thread of lifting rod 3.Lifting rod 3 cannot be freely rotated to change the height, therebyfirmly locking the height of the top of threaded lifting rod 3 and anysurfaces coupled thereto. The function of adjustment and the structureof the mechanical design are both simple and practical. Thepracticability is high, the manufacturing cost is low, and it issuitable for all the furniture that needs to be supported, such astables, stools, coffee tables, chairs, etc. Further, the embodimentsdescribed and shown are convenient for users to use, and the range ofuses is very wide.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to,” “configured by,” “configurable to,” “operable/operativeto,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc.Those skilled in the art will recognize that such terms (e.g.“configured to”) generally encompass active-state components and/orinactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unlesscontext requires otherwise.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to claims containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “Aor B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art willappreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed inany order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in asequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may beperformed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may beperformed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may includeoverlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental,preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variantorderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like“responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives aregenerally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictatesotherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A height adjusting device, comprises: asupporting foot; a lifting nut coupled to the supporting foot; a liftingrod coupled to the lifting nut by a threaded interaction; a firstmechanical combination of: a fixing plate coupled to the lifting nut andhaving a threaded aperture therethrough, a screw threaded through thethreaded aperture and having a first screw end and a second screw end; aknob coupled to the first screw end; and a latching tooth coupled to thesecond screw end; and a second mechanical combination like the firstmechanical combination of the fixing plate, the screw, the knob, and thelatching tooth, the fixing plate of the second mechanical combinationbeing positioned at a different orientation than the first mechanicalcombination relative to the lifting nut.
 2. The height adjusting deviceof claim 1, wherein a bottom of the supporting foot is placed on ahorizontal surface, and the upper end of the supporting foot is fixedlymounted with the lifting nut.
 3. The height adjusting device of claim 1,wherein the lifting rod supports a furniture surface.
 4. The heightadjusting device of claim 1, wherein the fixing plates are fixedlymounted on the side of the lifting nut.
 5. The height adjusting deviceof claim 1, wherein the threaded hole is arranged in the middle of thefixing plate and the threaded hole is matched with the screw.
 6. Theheight adjusting device of claim 1, wherein the knobs are fixedlyconnected to the screw.
 7. The height adjusting device of claim 1,wherein there are two lifting nuts, and the locking tooth are locatedbetween the two lifting nuts.
 8. The height adjusting device of claim 1,wherein there are at least three supporting legs and the threesupporting legs are arranged in an equilateral triangle around thelifting nut,
 9. A locking mechanism for locking a nut to a threaded rodpreventing rotation, comprising: a nut configured to couple with thethreaded rod; a first mechanical combination of: a fixing plate coupledto the nut and having a threaded aperture therethrough, a screw threadedthrough the threaded aperture and having a first screw end and a secondscrew end; a knob coupled to the first screw end; and a latching toothcoupled to the second screw end; and a second mechanical combinationlike the first mechanical combination of the fixing plate, the screw,the knob, and the latching tooth, the fixing plate of the secondmechanical combination being positioned at a different orientation thanthe first mechanical combination relative to the nut.
 10. The lockingmechanism of claim 9, wherein the fixing plates are fixedly mounted onthe side of the nut.
 11. The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein thethreaded hole is arranged in the middle of the fixing plate and thethreaded hole is matched with the screw.
 12. The locking mechanism ofclaim 9, wherein the knobs are fixedly connected to the screw.
 13. Thelocking mechanism of claim 9, wherein there are two lifting nuts, andthe locking tooth are located between the two lifting nuts.
 14. Thelocking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the threaded rod is a part of afurniture piece.
 15. A method of locking a nut to a threaded rod,comprising: providing a nut configured to couple with the threaded rod,turning a knob, to engage a locking tooth with the threaded rod, of afirst mechanical combination of: a fixing plate coupled to the nut andhaving a threaded aperture therethrough; a screw threaded through thethreaded aperture and having a first screw end and a second screw end; aknob coupled to the first screw end, and a latching tooth coupled to thesecond screw end; and turning another knob, to engage another lockingtooth with the threaded rod of a second mechanical combination like thefirst mechanical combination of the fixing plate, the screw, the knob,and the latching tooth, the fixing plate of the second mechanicalcombination being positioned at a different orientation than the firstmechanical combination relative to the nut.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the fixing plates are fixedly mounted on the side of the nut.17. The method of claim 15, wherein the threaded hole is arranged in themiddle of the fixing plate and the threaded hole is matched with thescrew.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the knobs are fixedlyconnected to the screw.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein there aretwo lifting nuts, and the locking tooth are located between the twolifting nuts.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the threaded rod is apart of a furniture piece.